Author: NHL Hockey News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

The Ottawa Senators announced Saturday that they have signed restricted free agent forward Xavier Bourgault to a one-year, two-way contract.

Bourgault spent last season with the Belleville Senators, where he appeared in 61 games and recorded 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points. The 22-year-old isn't far removed from blue-chip NHL prospect status, being selected 22nd overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2021 NHL Draft.

That followed a standout junior career with the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL. Over four seasons, Bourgault tallied an impressive 206 points (97 goals, 109 assists) in 197 games. Following his draft year, he emerged as one of the Q's most dynamic offensive players, posting 75 points in 43 games and helping lead Shawinigan to the Quebec Junior title in 2022.

Sens GM Steve Staios would have gotten a good look at Bourgault at the Memorial Cup that year as his Hamilton Bulldogs faced the Cataractes twice in that tournament, where Bourgault put up 7 points in 4 games. That fall, both of them turned pro with Edmonton, where Staios joined the club for the 2022-23 season as a special advisor to the club's hockey operations staff. 

At 5-foot-11, 179 pounds, Bourgault was slow out of the gate in his first two years in Bakersfield with 54 points in his 117 games. So Staios, now in Ottawa, traded for him last summer, along with forward Jake Chiasson, for Roby Jarventie and a 2025 fourth-round pick.

Bourgault admitted at year's end that it took some adjustment going from the AHL team in Bakersfield, California, to the one in Belleville, Ontario.

"I think it's always stressful, a bit, coming into a new group," Bourgault told Belleville Sens Entertainment Network. "You don't know many guys, but I think the guys were pretty welcoming with me. And overall, I liked it on the ice. And off the ice with the guys was fun."

Bourgault was also asked to do some self-evaluation of his own 2024-25 season.

"Overall, I think I was pretty happy with how I finished the season. I think as an offensive guy, you always want to produce and help the team with that. For sure, some ups and downs. But I think as the season was going, I was getting more confident on the ice making plays.

"I think our line towards the end with Philli and Jany (Philippe Daoust and Jan Jenik) we were doing pretty good together. So now I think overall, I'm pretty happy. And just some improvement without the puck as well."

Bourgault will have to try and keep his late-season momentum (12 points in his final 16 AHL games) going this fall with at least one new face on his line. Daoust is now a UFA after not receiving a qualifying offer from the Sens, and while Jenik was qualified, he remains an RFA.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News-Ottawa
Image Credit: Belleville Senators, Jana Chytilova-Freestyle Photography

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Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke has a new gig for the 2024-25 BCHL season. 

Cooke, who spent five seasons with the Penguins and helped them win the 2009 Stanley Cup, is the general manager and head coach of the BCHL's Vernon Vipers. They announced the news on July 18. 

BREAKING!!! - The Vernon Vipers are pleased to announce Matt Cooke as the next Head Coach and GM of the franchise!

Follow the link for comments from Matt Cooke and owner Tom Glenhttps://t.co/AS0IE8bgPlpic.twitter.com/UzpG1wuyIM

— Vernon Vipers (@VernonVipers) July 19, 2025

Cooke played in the NHL for 16 seasons, spending time with the Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Minnesota Wild. He played in 1,046 games, compiling 167 goals and 398 points. Cooke also played in 110 playoff games, scoring 13 goals and accumulating 38 points. 

His best individual season with the Penguins came in 2011-12 when he finished with 19 goals and 38 points in 82 games. 

He got into coaching after retiring as a player and was most recently the head coach of the ECHL's Newfoundland Growlers during the 2023-24 season. 

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Featured Image Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

It goes without saying that Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond's exclusion from NHL.com's recent list of the best 10 players aged 25 or younger was at best a bizarre oversight, and at worst, a blatant snub. 

It was especially ironic since Raymond literally outscored all 10 players who made the list. 

Nevertheless, the Red Wings know that they have a budding star in the making with Raymond, who was their Round 1 selection in the 2020 NHL Draft after they somehow fell back multiple spots despite having posted the NHL's worst record by a wide margin in the difficult 2019-20 season. 

Not only did Raymond amass a new career-high in points with 80 this past season, but he's also very close to joining a select list of his own in Red Wings lore. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Raymond, who is only two goals away from 100 in his career, will soon become the 10th player in Red Wings history to reach the century mark in goals scored before turning 24 years of age. 

Lucas Raymond has led the @DetroitRedWings in points throughout each of the past two seasons, which included a career-high 80 points in 2024-25. #NHLYoungStarsWeek highlights the 23-year-old who sits within striking distance of 100 career goals this season. #NHLStatspic.twitter.com/eqPGysN7vL

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) July 19, 2025

The most recent player in this current era of Red Wings hockey to achieve the feat is Dylan Larkin, who did so during the aforementioned 2019-20 campaign. 

Other names on the list include Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov, Gordie Howe, Marcel Dionne, Ted Lindsay, Dale McCourt, John Ogrodnick, and Petr Klima. 

Talk about some pretty incredible company in Red Wings history that Raymond will soon join, including five who are forever enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame, and in the case of Howe, Lindsay, Klima, in the hearts of Detroit fans everywhere as they are no longer with us. 

Raymond is preparing to play the second year of his eight-year contract that he inked with Detroit last September, a nearly identical pact to that of teammate Moritz Seider, who was also a rookie that entered the NHL in the 2021-22 campaign. 

If he continues trending upward, 80 points may soon only seem like child's play for Raymond. 

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After taking a big step in the right direction last season, the Montreal Canadiens have been very busy this off-season. Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes has undoubtedly been aggressive this off-season, as he made several notable roster moves. 

The Canadiens' upgraded the right side of their defense in a big way, as they acquired star defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders in exchange for forward Emil Heineman and picks Nos. 16 and 17 of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. The Canadiens then immediately signed Dobson to an eight-year, $76 million contract, cementing him as a long-term part of their core. 

This was not the only exciting trade the Canadiens made this off-season, though. They also brought in promising young forward Zack Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for prospect defenseman Logan Mailloux. Bolduc should be a nice pickup, as he has shown very good promise early on his career. In 72 games last season, he set new career highs with 19 goals, 17 assists, 36 points.

The Canadiens also improved their depth by bringing in players like Joe Veleno, Kaapo Kahkonen, and Sammy Blais. They also re-signed young goaltender Jakub Dobes to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $965,000.

Overall, it is hard not to be happy with the moves the Canadiens have made so far this off-season. Due to their strong moves, they have now received some serious praise. 

In a recent article for The Athletic, Dom Luszczyszyn listed the Canadiens as the second-most improved this off-season. The only team ahead of the Canadiens on The Athletic's list are the San Jose Sharks.

When looking at the additions the Canadiens have made this off-season, it is understandable that they are viewed as a club that has significantly improved. They added a legitimate top-pairing defenseman in Dobson, a skilled forward on the rise in Bolduc, and some experienced depth players. Thus, it is hard not to feel optimistic about the Canadiens heading into 2025-26. 

It will be intriguing to see how the Canadiens perform next season after their strong off-season, but it is fair to say that their roster looks better than it was last year. 

Canadiens Have The Most Expensive Goaltending This Season (On Paper)According to Puckpedia’s numbers, the Montreal Canadiens have the most expensive goaltending in the NHL this season. They devote $14.8 million in salary to masked men, which accounts for the three goaltenders they have on NHL contracts and who aren’t waivers exempt: Carey Price, Samuel Montembeault, Kaapo Kahkonen, and Jakub Dobes. That works out to 15,5% of their cap.

Photo Credit: © Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Welcome to another The Hockey News - Vancouver Canucks site article series. In this set of features, we’ll be taking a look at the 2025–26 Canucks coaching staff and their careers as players in the NHL. To start this series off, we’ll be looking at newly-appointed Vancouver head coach Adam Foote. 

Before Foote joined the Canucks organization in January of 2023 as an assistant coach to former head coach Rick Tocchet, he spent 20 years in the NHL as a tough, hard-nosed defenceman. He spent the bulk of his time in the NHL with the Québec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche, as well as a handful of seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Had it not been for his brief stint with the Blue Jackets, Foote would have been a career Nordique/Avalanche, as he was drafted 22nd overall by the organization in 1989. 

Prior to joining the NHL, Foote played for the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL for three seasons. The defenceman piled points upon points onto his OHL career with each year that he played in the league for. In his first season, 1988–89, he scored seven goals and 31 assists in 66 games played. Both his goals and assists outputs increased the season after, as he put up 12 goals and 43 assists in 61 games. In his final season with the Greyhounds in 1990–91, during which he served as an assistant captain, Foote scored 18 goals and 51 assists in only 59 games. 

Despite his point totals in the OHL, throughout his NHL career, Foote was known for his defensively-sound qualities as a stay-at-home blueliner. He played in 46 games during his first season with the Nordiques, scoring two goals and five assists. He made his NHL debut in October of 1991, registered his first NHL point in November of the same year, and scored his first NHL goal in January of 1992 against the Calgary Flames. 

In the 1992–93 season, Foote registered 168 penalty minutes in 81 games and added 16 points to his stats. He also got his first taste of NHL playoff action with the Nordiques, skating in all six of the team’s postseason games in their loss to the Montréal Canadiens in the first round. By the time Québec made it back to the playoffs, Foote had played in nearly four NHL seasons. This run ended in the same result as Foote’s first — a six-game first round loss, this time to the New York Rangers. It was after this season, 1994–95, that the Nordiques were relocated to Colorado. 

The move to Colorado seemed to mark a turning point in the franchise’s playoff performances, as the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in their first season after their relocation. From their first season in Colorado, 1995–96, to 2006–07, the Avalanche did not miss the playoffs. This dynasty included two Stanley Cup wins, four Conference Final losses, and two Semi-Final defeats. 

During his first regular season in Colorado, Foote scored five goals and 11 assists in 73 games played. He also contributed during the playoffs with a goal and three assists in 22 games. Ironically enough, after facing first-round demons in the two playoff series he’d played in before, Foote and the Avalanche took down none other than the Canucks in order to make it to the second round of the postseason. To make matters even more ironic, they also swept Vancouver during the first round of their second Stanley Cup win in 2001. Both Western Conference teams were considered powerhouses around this time, with the West Coast Express line of Markus Näslund, Todd Bertuzzi, and Brendan Morrison leading the way for the Canucks. 

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Foote was named an assistant captain for the Avalanche in the 1996–97 season, serving in this role until the end of the 2003–04 season. Offensively speaking, he had some of his best years towards the end of his first stint with the Avalanche (more on that later). In the 2001–02 season, Foote scored five goals and 22 assists in 55 games played, adding a goal and six assists to this total as well in Colorado’s 21-game Conference Final loss. In this same season, he joined Team Canada at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, winning his first international gold medal. He hit his career-high in points the season after with 11 goals and 20 assists in 78 games, and followed that up with eight goals and 22 assists in 73 games in 2003–04. 

With the lockout keeping players from playing during the 2004–05 season, Foote joined Team Canada at the World Cup of Hockey and put up three assists in six games. He was joined by Canuck at the time Ed Jovanovski and soon-to-be Canuck Roberto Luongo. In Canada’s undefeated tournament win, capped off by a 3–2 victory against Team Finland, Foote was named to the All-Tournament Team alongside Martin Brodeur (Canada), Kimmo Timonen (Finland), Fredrik Modin (Sweden), Vincent Lecavailer (Canada), and Saku Koivu (Finland). 

By the time the NHL resumed play, Foote had moved on from the Avalanche, signing a three-year deal with the Blue Jackets. He was named captain in his first season with the team and scored six goals and 16 assists in 65 games with Columbus. In the following years, he scored nine goals and 25 assists in 124 games before the Blue Jackets ultimately decided to trade him back to Colorado in exchange for a first-round and fourth-round pick. 

After reuniting with the Avalanche, Foote spent the better half of three more seasons with Colorado, during two of which he acted as the team’s captain. The 2010–11 season was his final one as a player, as Foote made the decision to retire at the end of the year. However, it didn’t take him long to find his way back to the NHL, as he became a team consultant for the Avalanche in the 2013–14 season — two years after his retirement as a player. 

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While the Chicago Blackhawks have had a fairly quiet off-season, they have made a few moves. One of them was bringing back old friend Sam Lafferty, as the Original Six club acquired him from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick. 

The Blackhawks clearly like Lafferty as a player, as this is the third time that they have acquired him. This includes just this past off-season, as the Blackhawks acquired Lafferty's signing rights, forward Ilya Mikheyev, and a 2027 second-round pick from the Vancouver Canucks. However, the Blackhawks and Lafferty did not agree to a new contract before July 1 of last year, so he became an unrestricted free agent (UFA) and signed with the Sabres. 

The Sabres moving on from Lafferty this off-season was not necessarily surprising. The 6-foot-2 forward struggled to find his fit with the Sabres in 2024-25, posting just four goals, three assists, and a minus-15 rating in 60 games. Overall, it was a rough year offensively for Lafferty, and he will now look to bounce back with the Blackhawks from here.

When looking at Lafferty's recent previous seasons, there is reason to believe that he could turn things around with Chicago. Just back during the 2023-24 campaign with the Canucks, he scored a career-high 13 goals and recorded 24 points in 79 games. This was after he had 12 goals and a career-high 27 points in 70 games split between the Blackhawks and Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2022-23 season. Thus, the potential for him to provide decent secondary offensive production again could be there.

If Lafferty's offense does go up and he maintains his physical style of play, he could end up being a very solid addition to the Blackhawks' bottom six next season. It will be intriguing to see if he can be just that from here. 

Blackhawks' Connor Bedard Receives Massive PraiseChicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard just completed his second NHL season, and it is hard not to be optimistic about his future with the Original Six club. In 82 games on the year, the 5-foot-10 forward set new career highs with 23 goals, 44 assists, and 67 points. When noting that he was only 19 years old throughout the entire 2024-25 campaign, this kind of production is quite impressive.

Photo Credit: © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Buffalo Sabres should be in the market for an impact top-six forward after dealing winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth for defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan, but the opening weeks of free agency did not provide GM Kevyn Adams with an opportunity to replace Peterka’s production, and with the two-year deal signed last week with defenseman Bowen Byram, Adams will have to try to acquire a scoring forward with younger players, prospects, and/or draft picks. 

Winger Michael Bunting has been much travelled over the last two seasons, ever since the 29-year-old left the Toronto Maple Leafs as an unrestricted free agent and signing a three-year, $13.5 million contract with Carolina. Originally a fourth-round pick of Arizona, Bunting spent five seasons in the American Hockey League before getting an NHL look and scoring 10 goals in 21 games with the Coyotes at the end of the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season.  

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Bunting signed with his hometown Maple Leafs and former junior GM Kyle Dubas and immediately clicked as the left winger on the top line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner and his 63 points (23 goals, 40 assists) earned him a Calder Trophy nomination. The following season, he matched his goal total, and his sandpapery and antagonistic play drew the ire of the opposition and 183 penalty minutes over two seasons with Toronto, but also earned him a reputation with officials that became a negative.

After signing with the Canes, Bunting has been traded twice; to Pittsburgh in the Jake Guentzel deal, and to Nashville for Thomas Novak and Luke Schenn. In both seasons, he has continued to score, with 19 goals each season.   

What Would It Cost?

Nashville is interested in bouncing back from a disastrous season after signing free agents Steven Stamkos. Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei. This summer, they upgraded their blueline by swapping for defenseman Nicolas Hague and center Erik Haula, and signing Nick Perbix away from Tampa Bay. 

The Preds have some youth coming, but they may not be ready this season, and took on Bunting’s $4.5 million deal in part because Novak took a big step backwards in the first year of a three-year contract extension. GM Barry Trotz may be willing to part with the veteran in the final year of his deal for a younger forward like Isak Rosen or a non-first round pick. The Sabres could use the energy generated by the rambunctious winger, and he has proven that he can plug in asc a complementary top-six winger, which is what Buffalo needs to replace Peterka on the first or second line next season. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

The Pittsburgh Penguins have made multiple additions to their roster this off-season. Some of the players they brought in this summer include Anthony Mantha, Matt Dumba, Justin Brazeau, Arturs Silovs, Connor Clifton, and Parker Wotherspoon. Overall, the Penguins have added to their depth so far this summer. 

While this is the case, it is clear that the Penguins have a clear roster need to address if they hope to be more competitive -  adding another top-four left defenseman.

When looking at the Penguins' left side, it is clear that it could use some work. While they have options like Wotherspoon, Ryan Graves, Alexander Alexeyev, and Ryan Shea, expecting them to be true long-term answers for the top four may be a stretch. Thus, if an opportunity presents itself to bring in an upgrade to their left side, the Penguins should act on it.

However, with it being so deep into the off-season, it will be harder for the Penguins to address this need before the season starts. Top unrestricted free agent (UFA) Vladislav Gavrikov ended up signing a seven-year contract with the New York Rangers once he hit the market. Meanwhile, former top left-shot defenseman trade candidate K'Andre Miller was dealt by the Rangers to the Carolina Hurricanes and immediately signed an eight-year, $60 million contract with the Canes.

Bowen Byram could be an interesting player to keep an eye on as a potential trade target for the Penguins. While he recently re-signed with the Buffalo Sabres for two years, he has still been discussed in the rumor mill. The 24-year-old blueliner would certainly boost their blueline if acquired, as he is a young and proven top-four defenseman. However, he can become a UFA once his new deal expires after the 2026-27 season, so the Penguins acquiring him would also come with some risk. 

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if the Penguins can find a way to boost the left side of their defense from here. If not before the season, this should be an area they work to improve during the campaign. 

Penguins Made Good Move Trading For Former Canucks GoalieThe Pittsburgh Penguins have had a busy off-season, as they have brought in multiple new players. One of them is goaltender Arturs Silovs, as the Penguins acquired him from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round pick earlier this month.

Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

After not playing for two consecutive seasons, former St. Louis Blues goaltender Jaroslav Halak confirmed to Tomas Prokop of Dennik Sport that he is officially retired. 

Jaroslav Halák has officially retired at age 40. He played in the NHL from 2006 to 2023, appeared in 581 games, suited up for eight teams, and won the William M. Jennings Trophy twice. He confirmed it to me in an interview for @DennikSportpic.twitter.com/OD8sjkAEaB

— Tomáš Prokop (@Lewysko) July 18, 2025

Halak was acquired by the Blues from the Montreal Canadiens during the 2010 NHL off-season and certainly put together a strong tenure with the Central Division club. In 159 games over four seasons with the Blues from 2010-11 to 2013-14, he recorded an 83-47-19 record, a .916 save percentage, a 2.23 goals-against average, and 20 shutouts. He also won the William M. Jennings Trophy with Brian Elliott during the 2011-12 season with the Blues. 

Halak's time with the Blues ended near the 2014 NHL trade deadline, as he was moved to the Buffalo Sabres in the deal that sent Ryan Miller to St. Louis. However, Halak never ended up playing a game for the Sabres, though, as he was quickly traded to the Washington Capitals at the deadline. 

Following his time with the Blues, Halak had stops with the Capitals, New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, and New York Rangers. In 581 games over 17 NHL seasons, he had a 295-189-69 record, a .915 save percentage, and a 2.50 goals-against average. He also won his second William M. Jennings Trophy during the 2019-20 season with the Bruins. 

Blues Made Sneaky Good Move Signing New ForwardEarlier this off-season, the St. Louis Blues signed forward Nick Bjugstad to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.75 million. With the Blues needing more center depth, seeing them bring in Bjugstad ultimately made sense. This is especially so when noting that Radek Faksa ended up leaving St. Louis and going back to the Dallas Stars in free agency.

Photo Credit:  © Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

Jaroslav Halak and Blake Wheeler, two former New York Rangers players, have both formally announced their retirement from the NHL. 

Halak played 17 seasons in the NHL for the Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals, New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, and Rangers. 

His final season came during the 2022-23 campaign with the Rangers. He recorded a 10-9-5 record, .903 save percentage, and 1.72 save percentage. 

Despite not playing for the past two seasons, Halak hadn’t formally retired until this week, when he ultimately decided he had nothing left to give.

“Last year I completed summer training ... but when nothing came of it, I told myself it was pointless. After that I didn't even try anymore," Halak said. "I'm officially ending my career. I would like to thank my family, friends, fans and especially my wife Petra, who has been by my side my entire career.”

Wheeler played 16 seasons in the NHL for the Boston Bruins, Atlanta Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets, and Rangers. 

K'Andre Miller Sends Emotional Message To Rangers Fans And Organization After Signing With HurricanesAfter spending the first five seasons of his career with the New York Rangers, K’Andre Miller is beginning the next chapter of his career with the Carolina Hurricanes. 

The veteran forward played his last season with the Blueshirts during the 2023-24 season. After his stint with the Rangers, Wheeler took a full season before announcing his retirement. 

“More or less, right after last year, I knew I was all done,” Wheeler said. “I just didn’t have anything left in the tank.”

We’re in the heart of the NHL’s off-season, and as always at this time of year, THN.com is breaking down the state of each team in the league. 

This time around, we’re continuing a process for our new “Summer Splash” series. In each file, we’ll be analyzing, in reverse order, the big-picture moves every franchise has made – free agent and trade acquisitions, departures, and hirings and firings where applicable. 

To decide on the order of teams we’ve ranked this summer, we’ve focused on the teams that have improved, the franchises that have stayed the same and the organizations that have taken a step backward. There will be exceptions to the rules – mainly, regarding teams that aren’t markedly worse than they were last year, but that made fewer moves of note than they either should’ve or could’ve made – but for the most part, the criteria here is straightforward. 

If your favorite team failed to get better, they’re going to be the subject of a Summer Splash file sooner than later, and if your favorite team got significantly better, you’ll have to wait a while longer to see what we have to say about them.

We began the Summer Splash series on Thursday by focusing on team No. 32, the Buffalo Sabres, and on Friday, we turned our attention to team No. 31, the Chicago Blackhawks. Today, we’ll be drilling down on the moves the 30th-overall team – the Winnipeg Jets – has made.

Additions

Jonathan Toews (C), Gustav Nyquist (LW), Tanner Pearson (LW)   

The Breakdown: The Jets were the NHL’s best regular-season team last year, so it would be difficult for them to finish at the top of this team-by-team series by being markedly better. However, once you take into account the risks Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has taken with his roster moves, you see why we’ve ranked them near the bottom of this list.

To be sure, the Jets have taken a major gamble by signing veteran star center Toews to be their second-line center. Toews has been out of the league for two years, dealing with health issues, and there’s no guarantee he’ll return to the form that helped his Chicago Blackhawks win three Stanley Cups. There’s a real risk this move doesn’t work out, and we’ve factored that into placing the Jets low in our Summer Splash series.

Meanwhile, the other two additions Winnipeg has made are 35-year-old Nyquist and 32-year-old Pearson, both of whom are closer to the end of their NHL careers than their prime. Nyquist had only 11 goals and 28 points last season, while Pearson generated only 12 goals and 27 points. Thus, they’re both only secondary scoring options. And so, at a time when Central Division teams have been bulking up, the Jets have only made peripheral changes, as well as the massive gamble on Toews. 

Departures

Nikolaj Ehlers (LW), Mason Appleton (C), Brandon Tanev (LW)

The Breakdown: Given that Winnipeg lost its third-best point producer in Ehlers, who signed with the Carolina Hurricanes, and didn’t adequately replace him, the Jets’ offensive attack, which was fourth-best in the league at an average of 3.35 goals-for per game, has taken a serious hit.

In addition, losing Appleton and Tanev – the latter of whom was Winnipeg’s big trade deadline acquisition – also hurts the Jets. Tanev brought snarl and defensive acumen, Appleton was a solid fourth-liner and Ehlers was Winnipeg’s fourth-best goal-scorer, posting 24 goals in only 69 games. 

Losing those three isn’t going to result in the Jets missing the playoffs, but they’re not going to be as deep or dynamic as they were last year. The Jets may ultimately fall out of the top spot in the Central, in part, because they’re going to miss having a trio of productive NHL forwards in their lineup.

The Bottom Line

Don’t get it twisted – the Jets remain a good team. But we have to arrive at the conclusion they’re not as good as they were throughout the 2024-25 regular season and playoffs. That may change, as Cheveldayoff still has $10.54-million in salary cap space to play with. And the Jets are built to win now, so Cheveldayoff isn’t going to be making trades for draft picks and prospects. He’s going to spend to the cap ceiling on proven veterans and talent that can help make Winnipeg be more than just a great regular-season team. 

The Jets showed signs of being that improved team last spring when they eliminated the St. Louis Blues in the opening round, but they were sent home for the summer in the second round by a Dallas Stars team that had difference-makers stepping up at key times in a way Winnipeg’s top players did not. 

With the lack of high-end moves he’s made this summer, Cheveldayoff is banking that his core talents are going to evolve into needle-movers in the second round of the playoffs and beyond. However, as it stands, the Jets have clearly taken a step back. It’s not a gigantic step back, nor is it one they can’t recover from. But losing Ehlers, Tanev and Appleton are notable blows to their cause, and with Central rivals like the Colorado Avalanche and Stars on their heels, the Jets may indeed finish well below the top spot in their division.

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By Ella Tsotsos, The Hockey News intern

Born and raised in Toronto, Ont., the Washington Capitals selected Tom Wilson 16th overall in the 2012 NHL Draft. Wilson offered wise words to North Toronto players after a skate in Toronto.

Upon returning home for training, Wilson recounted his hockey career as a child and his inspiration, which fueled his ambition to become a spectacular player in the NHL.

After his 2024-25 season, Wilson played 81games, scored 33 goals and had 65 points.

Wilson, an alternate captain for the Washington Capitals, was born and raised in Toronto and played minor hockey with North Toronto (NTHA). Wilson carries much pride in this hockey association and keeps his strong Toronto roots close to him. From an early age, he shared how many memories he created at the North Toronto Memorial Arena, and that love for hockey has never left him. There’s even a huge banner of him hanging proudly at the North Toronto Memorial Arena – a reminder that no matter how far he’s come, he’s never forgotten where it all started.

In 2018, after winning the Stanley Cup, Wilson did not return to his hometown hockey arena empty-handed. Wilson brought the cup to where it all began for him. Wilson played many seasons for the North Toronto club until he went on to play at the highest level. Wilson shared what growing up in Toronto meant for him and his hockey career.

“This is the arena where I fell in love with the game of hockey. This is where I spent every day hoping I’d make it to the NHL. Walking through the doors you get all the memories of being a kid here,” said Wilson via the North Toronto Hockey website.

For Wilson, the dream of becoming a hockey player stuck with him. His parents helped ensure that he created a balance with his sport, instilling educational values and also having fun. During an interview in July, just after a training session, Wilson shared advice to North Toronto hockey players.

“I think for me, I was having a balance of not only having hockey hockey hockey, but my parents always made sure I had good grades and being with friends who really enjoy it,” Wilson said.

Growing up, Wilson discovered that the key to becoming a successful hockey player was to establish a balance and become a well-rounded player. In Wilson’s OHL days playing for the Plymouth Whalers, he was awarded the OHL West Division’s academic player of the month in October 2011.

“If you're all in and you're doing too much sometimes you get burnt out, so as a kid, just make sure you're always having fun and playing other sports and spending time outside. If you are good enough and you got the work ethic, the rest of it will come and just enjoy it.”

When connecting to his Toronto roots, Wilson shared who his hockey idols were growing up.

“When I was little in Toronto, I liked Darcy Tucker. He was a guy that played hard and a Toronto Maple Leaf. Mats Sundin, who trained with the same trainer as me, was always a beast, so those were kinda my era. When I was a kid, I just always loved going to the rink every time.” 

When it comes to comparison, both Wilson and Tucker have been known for their physicality, scoring skills, and both being players who played with an energetic style that antagonized opponents. Although Sundin is known for his goal-scoring capabilities and Wilson has not produced as many points, both players have demonstrated their leadership qualities as they both served as alternate captains – Sundin also served as captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs – and Wilson continues to be a force on the ice.

Wilson is more than just a powerful presence on the ice who still carries the heart of North Toronto with him every time he laces up. His journey is proof that passion, resilience, and community can shape a great athlete. Wilson truly loves the game and hasn’t lost sight of what got him to where he is.

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The Buffalo Sabres once had one of the top-rated prospect pools in the NHL, but with youngsters Zach Benson, Devon Levi, and JJ Peterka either graduating to the NHL or aging out. This season, the Sabres have three of their prospects in The Athletic’s Top 100 Drafted Prospects list, with none of them ranked in the top 10. 

Sabres 2025 first rounder Radim Mrtka was ranked highest at 17th. The 18-year-old blueliner was selected ninth overall last month and is listed between a pair of older right-handed defensemen, New Jersey’s Simon Nemec, and Detroit’s Axel Sandin-Pellikka. 

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According to the Athletic’s Scott Wheeler, Mrtka “doesn’t have some of the kinks you expect a D his size and age to have. I think his ceiling is quite high. His skating and calm with the puck are both very rare attributes in a player his size.”

2024 top pick Konsta Helenius is listed 52nd, even though the Finnish center made the jump to North America and was named to the AHL All-Rookie team as an 18-year-old. The third is 21-year-old center Noah Ostlund, who had 36 points (19 goals, 17 assists) in 45 games  with AHL Rochester and earned an eight-game tryout with the Sabres at the end of last season. 

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Florida's loaded cap space make back-to-back champion Niko Mikkola a possible cap causality next summer

The 2026 NHL Free Agent class has the potential to be the biggest in league history with some of the biggest names up for grabs. Barring a similar event to this year where all the top players re-sign, we could see a major shake up within the league. Most hockey fans look to biggest names like Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Artemi Panarin among others on the block and salivate at the idea of their team nabbing one of the league's best. 

The back-to-back Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers won't be excempt from potentially losing a key piece in this free agency class with defenceman Niko Mikkola entering next season on an expiring contract. The Panthers have several big name players like Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk and Brad Marchand signed up until 2030 with a player like Mikkola on the outside looking like a potential cap causality. 

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The towering 6-foot-6 defenceman has proven to be a physical, playoff-type player that has excelled in Florida's culture. Mikkola isn't much of a point producer as he usually finishes with 20-25 points per season but is mainly utelized for his elite defensive play. Over the last two seasons, he has managed a +23 rating along with the 13th-most hits in the NHL at 335 and a team-leading 212 blocked shots. 

His key efforts on the defensive end with make him a hot ticket in the market and will certianly garner a long list of suitors. One of which could be the Detroit Red Wings as they are currently sitting with 12 million in cap space and will have plenty more at the end of this season. Coming off the books will likely be Patrick Kane's $3 million cap hit as well as $4.75 million more from 34-year-old Ben Chiarot and another $3.4 million from defenceman Justin Holl.

The extra $11 million cleared up from these three players alone should be enough to get a deal done for Mikkola while also still having enough left over to go after another available player in superstar and Michigan native Kyle Connor of the Winnipeg Jets. These two adds would be massive for Detroit but even coming away with just Mikkola would be a big win. 

The Red Wings defence corps is didn't make significant improvements this summer and are coming off a season where they finished bottom 12 in goals against average. An addition like Mikkola would be a huge upgrade in an area of need while also not blocking the path and providing a stable partner early on for high-end prospect Axel Sandin-Pellikka, if the team decided to call him up. The top four being Simon Edvisson with Mortiz Seider followed by Mikkola and Sandin-Pellikka would be a deadly foursome and something that Steve Yzerman and company should seriously consider.

2025 Red Wings Draft Pick Michal Svrcek Announces Where He's Playing Next Season The 2025 NHL Draft wrapped up in late June, and among the players selected by Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman was Slovakian forward Michal Svrcek in the fourth round (119th overall). 

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The name Dorrington is not well-known in Rangers history but it should be, and here’s why. 

Back in the early 1950s the Blueshirts had a farm team in Atlantic City. They were called the Sea Gulls and played in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League against teams such as the New York Rovers, another Rangers farm team. 

Art Dorrington, an African-Canadian, was a Sea Gulls star and signed a Rangers contract. 

Unfortunately the Blueshirts failed to promote Dorrington - their mistake - but he became historic nonetheless, becoming the first black player to sign an NHL contract, paving the way for players such as Willie O’Ree. 

After retiring, Art settled in Atlantic City and organized one of the best kids programs in North America. 

“I went down to A.C. and did a feature on Dorrington,” Stan Fischler recalls. “He was one of the most popular figures in the resort city.” 

Happily, I report the Dorrington name lives on not only with the Rangers organization but the Islanders as well. 

While not being known for producing top NHL talent like certain collegiate programs, Sacred Heart University, in Fairfield, Connecticut, has steadily made its mark on professional hockey. To begin the 2024-25 season, the Pioneers had 18 alumni suit up at the professional level. 

Justin Danforth, who played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, was the only NHLer. By the end of the season, an additional four players from the Pioneers 2024-25 roster got a taste of professional hockey. Including Max Dorrington.

At the conclusion of his collegiate career, Max received a professional tryout from the Bridgeport Islanders and skated in seven AHL games. 

“I was actually at my house in Bridgeport when he [Dorrington’s agent] told me I was gonna sign there. 

“I told my roommate and he was obviously super excited. Then I just let my parents know, and I was at practice pretty much the next day. So it all happened really quick.” 

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Dorrington had the opportunity to attend his first NHL development camp, with the New York Islanders, and cherished every moment. 

“It's been a crazy experience, you know, just being in the facilities, getting treated like an NHLer for the week, being in the gear, it's all pretty surreal.” 

Dorrington signed a one-year AHL contract with Bridgeport on July 1, and is preparing for his first full professional season. 

When asked about his distant cousin, Art, this is what Max had to say. 

“He's the first black player to sign an NHL contract. And I think that that's a pretty important milestone, especially because he did it for the Rangers in this exact same area. 

“He's kind of had an impact here, especially on hockey. So, yeah, I wear the name proudly, and I definitely think about it.” 

Max is the Islanders’ Dorrington, but what about the Rangers? 

Max’s brother, Jackson, played his collegiate career at Northeastern University, and is now on the opposite side of the New York rivalry. 

Jackson, a sixth round draft choice of the Vancouver Canucks in 2022, was acquired by the Rangers in the J.T. Miller trade. 

“We got to play each other three times at the end of the year in the AHL, so that was our first time ever playing against each other,” Max recalls. “We train together in the summer. We kind of feel like we're on the same team, working towards the same goals, but then once October comes around, it's gonna all change, and we're going at it again.” 

Both brothers are preparing for the beginning of their professional careers, and it’s safe to say they are looking forward to it, especially Max. 

"It's the first time in my life where there's no more school, there's no more distractions, it's just gonna be hockey all the time, and I'm pretty excited for that.” 

Art Dorrington would be proud!